Fallball 2011: UMBC Retrievers Check-In

The 2011 roster had 35 athletes, only eight of which were upperclassmen. Three of them were seniors, so the Retrievers graduate just 20 total points (18 from Jamie Kimbles). Returning is a big chunk of the team a year wiser and “hungrier” after not reaching expectations with a 6-7 season.

A year of experience should go a long way for Coach Don Zimmerman's squad.

“It helps us out a lot,” Zimmerman said at a sunny an warm fall practice. “Last year, we were a young team. I think we were statistically the youngest team in DI lacrosse. Now this year, a lot of those young players have grown and matured and have a year experience under their belt. ... Then you add a nice freshman class, and I think that helps us.”

Zimmerman said his philosophy in fall is to always start with the base level of fundamentals and build a strong foundation. Having more experience allows the team to accelerate through those fundamentals and move forward more easily.

One key difference for Zimmerman though, was the first week of lacrosse practice: No equipment necessary. “We just came out and did conditioning. I think it sent a good message that even though this is fall lacrosse, summer's over now it's time to gear up and get ready for the year,” Zimmerman said. “Also, it's helped us in that there's very few little kniks out on the field.”

FRESH FACES

Zimmerman said the position battles are “wide open,” and that freshmen are in the running for time.

But one particulary important new face on the UMBC sideline isn't a new face at all. Ed Stephenson returns to the Retrievers as associate head coach after six full seasons as the first head coach at Binghamton. Stephenson was an assistant coach from 1995-2000 and could be a boon to recruiting with his ties to the Baltimore area.

“Coach Stephenson comes back with head coaching experience, and so I think it's great. Coach (Andy) Gallagher in his third year; I can see tremendous growth there as well. I'm very pleased with the staff we put together,” Zimmerman said. “I like our staff, the makeup, the personalities, and the way they interact with one another and the players”

At goalie, the Retrievers bring in highly-touted goalie prospect Wes Dirito out of DeMatha. He is the No. 14-ranked goalie according to Inside Lacrosse. He's one of three goalies on the roster. Senior Brian McChullough is a senior and the “incumbent,” and junior Adam Cohen has developed nicely as he enters the second half of his college career. After having four goalies on the roster and two last year, Zimmerman said the team would “love to settle in and always have three goalkeepers.”

As for Dirito, Zimmerman said: “That transition from high school to college is a big jump, none more so than for a goalie, so he's feeling his way. But we like what we see. We like what we saw from him when we recruited him and what we see from him now.”

Another fresh face is a transfer from Denver. Midfielder Will Fejes went to nearby St. Mary's Ryken for high school and has come back east.

TOP DOGS

Senior attackman Rob Grimm was last year's leading scorer (17G, 18A). He returns for the Retrievers this year and was named one of the team's senior captain. Canadian Scott Jones was impressive in practice — he looks even more imposing than his 6-4 frame — and is also a captain. Not only can he finish, he was tough on rides during practice. Long-stick middie Ethan Murphy is also a captain.

FALL FOCUS

I caught UMBC's practice on sunny Thursday in Catonsville, Md., just a few days prior to the team's scrimmage against Georgetown. Because of that, it was a lighter practice session than usual.

Zimmerman focused on the fundamentals and teaching his squad through drills, coming out in front of the crease to show where attackmen should end up on a roll dodge, for instance, or showing the proper angle your arms should go when making a bounce shot from up top.

Zimmerman would continue teaching during half-field drills, not afraid to come out and point players to where they should be on the field, mostly focusing on the offense and giving Stephenson a chance to counter with his defenders. In a half-field game to five, the offense cruised to victory, but the defense countered in man-down drills.

A point of emphasis was to play within the system and “within yourself.” Zimmerman stressed not to force a low-percentage pass or shot in favor of keeping percentage, resetting and wearing down the defenders.

An unusual caveat to that day's practice was the experimental rules, which took a portion of practice for Zimmerman to go over the nuances of the different rules.

TRADITIONS

Not often a head coach gets to sit back, relax and just watch. That's what Zimmerman gets to do during the team's alumni game, a special tradition for UMBC that brings in alumni from as far as California over homecoming weekend. Zimmerman hands the team over to his assistants and the alumni to former assistant Rocco Vicchio, sits back at the scorer's table and enjoys the game.

ON THE BIG STAGE

You can catch the Retrievers this year at the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. UMBC will face Johns Hopkins at 4 p.m. More information about the Inside Lacrosse event and the Konica Minolta Big City Classic are available here.